I Inherited a Winchester Model 37 Steelbilt 20ga from my dad. Single barrel. It was given to my dad about 1955. It’s in good shape, has been cleaned and checked by someone I trust. Would y’all shoot it or let it be? If so what type of ammo? The answers I have found around the www so far are vague.
I can remember when I was young everyone wanted to borrow it during turkey shoot time so it must have been accurate. Dad always told me, this gun here has won many of turkeys.
Shoot it!
Life’s too short to own collectors items.
When in doubt, try asking your trusted LGS clerk.
I am with Karacal on this, shoot it.
As it was inherited, does this mean your father has passed? If so, my condolences to you and your family.
@ZoldFrog Yes my dad passed about 18 months ago. He was my rock. Being an only child, I got everything of his. He wasn’t lacking in the gun, ammo, knife or tools department. I even found a couple of machetes strapped to his 4-wheeler. Still finding treasures. Thank you for your condolences. He is in a better place. Just left his daughter with a bunch of stuff. 
So what kind of ammo or should I ask local gun store. I have one nearby.
Personally, I’d take it to your LGS. It also may not hurt to ask them to give it a “once over” unless that is something you’re either not concerned about or are comfortable doing it yourself.
I agree? 
Good, I really didn’t want to argue with you about it.
Shoot it…what’s the worst that can happen?
That’s kinda why I was asking. 
Will it explode? I did read somewhere a while back about not using certain types of ammo in older guns. I will verify with local gun store.
This is true of some of the older guns. My hunting buddy went through this a while back. If I remember correctly, it was something about the steel shot and muzzle velocity of the newer shells.
Go to your local Gunsmith have it checked out and ask him what type of ammo to use then shoot it. If your dad was like mine he would want you to get the same enjoyment he did from it.
to you
Sorry to here of your fathers passing.
Have it checked out by a qualified gunsmith. There should be no reason it can’t handle modern ammo. 20 gauge standards haven’t changed so as long as the gun wasn’t abused it should be good.
That’s a cool story by S_R.
Reminded me of my humble story, when one of my forefathers passed away, one of my regrets was not keeping and passing down more of their belongings, hats, blankets, tools, photos.
One left to us, a rifle - now 90 years old, USA made. I worried someone could get hurt, so I took it to a gun smith shop, for a nominal fee, they gave it a tune up, they know how to test fire and not get injured.
Phone rang, “Sir, your rifle works and is ready for pick up”. Did it again, for another rifle as well.
Much ammo has become more powerful, I could be wrong, but if one goes lower grain and not + P, I think it my be safer; One can research it.
But as another posted, shot gun ammo is different than “bullets”, and personally I’d have less worry.
I’d be more concerned about ensuring you know the choke size or if you can change chokes - as using the wrong ammo/choke size - to me is critical.
One of mine is a single shot 20g, but it’s a new store purchase. Mine offers exchangeable choke sizes, quite versatile.
Sounds like you got a USA “classic”. Your call of course, but personally, I’d would not put it in a glass case at home, but I’d use it, for hunt, range, Skeet. If not, it would still be a great convo piece in glass cabinet.
I have my grandfathers Remington 11-48 12ga after my biological father passed away a few years ago.
Both of them used it for waterfowl hunting, so I have zero doubt about its functionality….
That said, it’s the one firearm in my arsenal that I have not fired.
Mostly because I don’t understand the choke, it’s got an old school adjustable choke on it.
And I’m not a hunter, and I suck at skeet,… and my DP-12 is way more fun anyway!
Condolences for your loss. Loosing a parent is not easy, I can only imagine it’s worse when you’re an only child and have nobody else to share that grief with.
Sounds like your dad left you quite a bit of good stuff! (Mentioned a 4wheeler and some machetes)
If you’re not certain of the guns condition, take it to a gunsmith for a good once over.
Then take it to the range and enjoy it! That’s why he left it for you!
@Burdo Thanks for your input. I had read something about the choke being a concern but I don’t know anything about that. My LGS man was a friend of dads so I will get his help. I’ve been doing one gun at a time since he passed. Time and money ya know.
His 45 cal is sitting in my safe all clean, shiny, loaded with new grips but I am too chicken to shoot it just yet. And his Remington Model 1100 looks intimidating. And heavy. I don’t know if I would have a shoulder after that one. I may have to sit that one out. LOL And a Marlin model 30aw 30-06 that I will need help learning it’s mechanics and how to shoot too. LGS again. Need ammo and a magazine/clip(?). Those are just the next few on my list of many.
Yeah. I’ll probably put a couple of shells through it once a year, if she is good to go, and just keep it clean and rust free. Then pass down to my grandson in 20 yrs.
The fact that so many in a small community wanted to borrow the shotgun to win a turkey 60 years ago is a neat story in itself. That old shotgun probably came off the shelf at an old country store with a screen door, squeeky wooden floor, chickens running around and was next to the snuff on the counter. I wonder how much it was new in 1955ish? Maybe $10 or so.
Thank you @Will_B . My dad was a jack of all trades. Boat mechanic, then deputy, then drove a truck for almost 50 years. Had his own 18 wheeler, worked on it. Had heavy equipment, etc. Some of his tools I can hardly lift. He was a mans man. I do miss him.
Some great stories behind those collections. You made me feel sentimental, as soon I’ll be getting up in years and need to bestow my own humble collection to my younger family.
Any commercially available ammo is fine to shoot with that shotgun - one of very few that was produced without a manufacturer’s serial number. It wasn’t manufactured in the Black Powder era, isn’t a Damascus Twist barrel and can handle the pressures of ALL currently produced ammo. I have two of them - one 20 ga. and one 12 ga.
NOT steel. Shoot lead.